TV Shows Moms Should Watch This Fall

The
truth? I'm a busy single mother who is an avid reader and writer and doesn't
even have cable. Knowing just those facts about me, you probably wouldn't think
I'm all that big on sitting in front of the television for hours on end. But
you would be wrong. Sure, my television addiction has dwindled quite a bit
since becoming a mother, but I still totally look forward to those few hours
of "me-time" in front of the TV every night after the kiddo is in bed.

Of
course, that me-time is now so much more valuable than it once was, so I don't
want to waste it watching just anything. I'm very picky about the shows I get invested in, so I tend to do a fair amount of research into the
new fall lineup every year before deciding what to add to my DVR. And because
I'm a nice girl, I figured I would go ahead and share with you what I've
learned about the shows that will be gracing our screens in just over a month.

"Life
in Pieces" is the next multi-generational family comedy to hit the airwaves.
Think "Modern Family," just with a
different set of characters. I'm really excited about this one. It's got Colin
Hanks in it, who is adorable, and it's aimed at exploring all the different
stages of life and family. One son is just starting out in a new relationship,
another is welcoming his first child into the world, and their sister is
sending one of her kids off to college. My fingers are crossed that this one
lives up to the potential, because I think it could be absolutely endearing
(and hilarious) if done right.

You
know who I love? Ryan Murphy. This guy brought us both "Glee" and "American Horror
Story"—two vastly different shows that still both managed to completely suck
me in. And "Scream Queens," dubbed a "horror-comedy," seems like it could
encompasses all the best pieces of both of those shows. It even has an actress
from each, with Emma Roberts and Lea Michele headlining the cast. The show
itself is set in a sorority house, and with Murphy at the helm, it promises to
be the perfect blend of campy and irresistible.

"Oil" (Premiering
Sunday, September 27 at 9 / 8 p.m. central on ABC)

I'm going to be honest and admit that the
premise of "Oil" didn't immediately appeal to me. A bunch of people driven by
greed and fighting to get rich off the oil boom just doesn't sound like my kind
of show. But then, I saw who was staring in it: Chace Crawford, the boy who
made me love Gossip Girl. He will forever be Nate Archibald in my mind, and
seeing his sexy determination in the preview, I'm suddenly convinced this may
be a show I'll grow to love after all.

We've
all been there, right? Getting out of a relationship we're not quite ready to
move on from, making decisions we're not entirely proud of. Oh, wait … you mean
that's just me? Well, for the record, I've never moved anywhere for a boy
(though I did once move next door to an ex—not on purpose, I swear!) But
still, "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" (a show centered around a girl who does just that, moving to California to be closer to her ex) seems like a show I just might
love. It kind of reminds me of Felicity on the outset, and who can forget all
the amazing things that came into that girls life all because she chased Scott
Speedman to New York? We all have a little crazy in us, and I'm all for a show
that is willing to embrace that.

So those are the new shows I'll be checking out this year. And
then, of course, there are some of my returning favorites to look forward to:

If I could only watch one current show on television right now, this would be it. Connie Britton is pretty much my idol, from way back in her Friday Night Lights days, and the rest of the cast and storylines on Nashville are also absolutely amazing. I can't look away, and I can't wait until it's back!